Hand tool support

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a hand tool support ( 10 ) having a pair of handles ( 14, 16 ) angled with respect to one another, or parallel with one another. A frame element or connecting means ( 26 ) adapted to be connected at one end thereof to at least one ( 16 ) of said handles ( 14, 16 ) and at the other end to a hand tool ( 12 ), whereby, in use, the handles ( 14, 16 ) are located above hand tool ( 12 ).

This invention relates to a hand tool support and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to a hand tool support for angle grinders.

Angle grinders are well known hand tools and are used with many attachments. One purpose is to prepare a smooth surface by rotational abrasion. All presently available floor grinders are designed to be used with the operator either standing upright, or crouching or kneeling. The upright operation limits the direction of movement of the grinder head to either forward and backward, or from side to side. The grinding head also cannot be easily floated in a circular motion from a standing position with good control. Upright grinders cannot be floated in a circular motion because it requires holding the grinding disc or head parallel to the floor without tipping it to one side while moving it in a circular motion. Due to the poor balance from the long handle and the leverage requirements to move in a circular motion this is almost impossible under normal operating conditions from a standing position. In the kneeling position however, the grinder can be floated with good control. It can be moved in a circular direction to give a smooth finish to the work, but this is physically damaging to the back and/or the knees due to the bent bodily position. In addition many available dust shrouds or hoods stick readily to the floor when vacuum is applied because they are made of flexible materials or do not have adjustable seals. This can prevent floating, or at best can make it very difficult.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hand tool support which will alleviate the abovementioned problems.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hand tool support which can be adapted to be associated with modified conventional grinders or existing grinders, or integrated therewith.

With these objects in view the present invention may provide a hand tool support including a pair of handles angled with respect to one another, a frame element or connecting means adapted to be connected at one end thereof to at least one of said handles and at the other end to a hand tool, whereby, in use, said handles are located above said hand tool.

Preferably at least one of said handles includes a control means for activating said hand tool. In a practical embodiment said handles are substantially at right angles to one another. Preferably said handles are substantially co-planar. Preferably said hand tool is a grinder and one of said handles is aligned, in use, above the centre line of said grinder. It is also preferred that the junction of said handles overlies above the centre of the grinding disc of said grinder. In an especially preferred embodiment said grinder includes a dust shroud and, in use, said frame element or connecting means is attached to said dust shroud.

In a further aspect of the invention there may be provided a hand tool with integrated hand tool support, said hand tool support including a pair of handles angled with respect to one another, a frame element or connecting means adapted to be connected at one end thereof to at least one of said handles and at the other end to said hand tool with said handles being located above said hand tool.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a hand tool support including at least one handle means, a frame element or connecting means adapted to be connected at one end thereof to said at least one handle means and at the other end to a hand tool, whereby, in use, at least one handle means is located above said hand tool at a height to allow an operator to remain seated upright during use.

The invention also relates to a switch clamping device adapted to be placed on a handle of an electrically powered device which has a trigger switch for operation thereof, said switch clamping device including a housing which slides over a part of said handle and said trigger switch, said housing being deep enough to allow the electrical connector plug of said electrically powered device to be retained in said housing above said handle, and a trigger holding means coupled to said housing for holding said trigger switch closed.

Preferably said trigger holding means includes a rod passing through said housing to contact and hold said trigger switch closed. In a preferred embodiment said rod is adjustably mounted on said housing to allow for variations in handle and trigger switch depth. In a practical embodiment said housing is U-shaped and includes opposing wall members between the arms of said U-shaped housing to prevent escape of said electrical connector from said housing.

The invention also defines a dust shroud for an abrading tool, said dust shroud including a base plate and a peripheral skirt depending therefrom, an outlet pipe opening into said base plate for extraction of abraded material, and a flexible skirt attached to the outer periphery of said depending skirt depending beyond said peripheral skirt.

Preferably the dust shroud includes a clamping means to hold said flexible skirt to said depending skirt to allow for adjustment of the depth of said flexible skirt. In a practical embodiment said clamping means is a band clamp. The base plate may be circular and has a flattened segment which has a matching depending skirt part to expose said abrading tool for edging work. The dust shroud may include a separate arcuate segment having a base plate and co-operating depending skirt part, said arcuate segment co-operating with said flattened segment when edging work is not required. The co-operating depending skirt part may include a flexible skirt part. The flexible skirt has a cut out section or gap along a part of said flattened segment.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a hand tool support made in accordance with the invention attached to a grinder,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the hand tool support and grinder shown in FIG. 1 in use by an operator;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of a hand tool support and grinder,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a hand tool support and grinder;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along and in the direction of arrows 7-7 shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a switch clamping device made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the switch clamping device of FIG. 8 attached to an angle grinder;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the angle grinder shown in FIG. 9 fitted to a fourth embodiment of a hand tool support;

FIG. 11 is a front view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a dust shroud made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a separate arcuate segment of the dust shroud of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a disassembled plan view of the separate arcuate segment shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a similar view to that of FIG. 11 with the separate arcuate segment removed;

FIG. 17 is front view of the separate arcuate segment of the dust shroud of FIG. 13;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a dust shroud of FIG. 13 with the separate arcuate segment removed;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the hand tool support shown in FIG. 12 with a variation of the shape of the handles;

FIG. 20 is a plan view of the hand tool support shown in FIG. 12 with a variation of the shape of the handles;

FIG. 21 is a plan view of the angle grinder shown in FIG. 9 fitted to a fifth embodiment of a hand tool support with the handles at right angles;

FIG. 22 is a similar view to that of FIG. 21 with the handles in a parallel position;

FIG. 23 is a side view of a sixth embodiment of a hand tool support;

FIG. 24 is a plan view of FIG. 23; and

FIG. 25 is a side view of the handles used in FIG. 23.

In the various embodiments many of the components and construction are very similar. Accordingly, the same reference numerals will be used to avoid duplication of description.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 there is shown a hand tool support 10 coupled to an angle grinder 12. Hand tool support 10 has a pair of handles 14, 16 at right angles to one another. The handles 14, 16 are co-planar to provide a uniform height from the ground. Angle grinder 12 is fitted with a dust shroud 18 and outlet pipe 20 is coupled to a dust extractor (not shown) to remove abraded material from the surface being sanded or grinded. The outer periphery of the dust shroud 18 is fitted with a rubber skirt 22 that is held in position by a band clamp (not shown). Rubber skirt 22 is adjustable using the band clamp to allow for grinding discs (not shown) of varying height (wear) to form a seal. The fixed position of the rubber skirt 22 allows grinder 12 to float easily across the surface whilst maintaining excellent dust control.

Handle 14 is mounted parallel with the length of angle grinder 12 and handles 14, 16 intersect above the centre of the grinding disc (not shown) of angle grinder 12. This position will provide a good balance and ease of movement of the angle grinder across the surface. Handle 16 has a slide 24 for adjustable movement along tube 26 attached to dust shroud 18. The height adjustment position of handles 14, 16 can be locked by set screw 28 or other suitable clamping device.

Angle grinder 12 in this embodiment is a standard device which has been adapted for use with hand tool support 10. Angle grinder 12 has been split into two parts, namely with the motor (not shown) in one part and the trigger grip 30 in the other part. A suitable socket 32 is affixed to a backplate 34 with the backplate 34 covering the rear of the exposed casing of angle grinder 12 resulting from the split into two parts. The socket 32 includes internal wiring for electrical connection to the motor. A power lead 36 with a suitable plug 38 to fit socket 32 is fitted to power lead 36. Power lead 36 is coupled to trigger grip 30 through switch 40 for activation of the motor. Trigger grip 30 can be fitted to handle 14 in any suitable manner e.g. a slide tube, backplate, etc. Electrical power for angle grinder 12 comes from an electrical lead 37.

FIG. 2 shows the use of hand tool support 10 with angle grinder 12. An operator 42 is seated on a stool 44. Stool 44 has castors 46 to allow the operator 42 to glide around surface 48 to be prepared eg sanded, scarified or grinded. Operator 42 will be comfortably seated in a substantially upright position with his feet on the ground rather than crouching or kneeling on his knees. The fixed position of the seal formed by rubber skirt 22 allows grinder 12 to float easily over surface 48 with a reduced risk of back or knee injury. The approximate 90 degree angle between handles 14, 16 enables grinder 12 to be controlled in every direction. Handle 14 allows for a forward and backward motion and backward weight distribution whilst handle 16 controls sideways movement and sideways weight distribution. Weight distribution shifts allow the outer cutting edge of the grinder disc to bite in harder than the flat surface of the disc normally does. The angled handles 14,16 allow the operator 42 to tilt grinder 12 forward or backwards, and also tilt it sideways both right and left. This provides control in every direction through the handles 14, 16. If the grinder disc bites too hard into surface 48 causing the grinding disc to tilt, altering the pressure on each handle 14, 16 will return the disc to the parallel direction very quickly. The positioning of switch 40 allows an improved operator control for grinder 12. As the operator's head is located higher than it would be if on his knees, the operator will have a reduced tendency to inhale abraded dust. As the operator does not need to shift position on his knees there will be a substantially reduced risk of knee injury or soreness and a substantial increase in productivity. Castors 46 on stool 44 will also assist in reduction of soreness and injury to knees and back and increased productivity. As the handles 14, 16 are spread wider apart than the handles provided on a traditional angle grinder a better leverage is obtained which reduces the effort to move the grinder across the surface while maintaining a flat position of the disc on the surface to enable it to float.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of a hand tool support 10 where vertical tube 26 is connected to a bracket 50 rather than dust shroud 18. Bracket 50 is typically U-shaped with side members 52 being bolted to either side of grinder 12. Handle 14 can then be directly connected to slide 24 rather than be offset from slide 24 as in FIGS. 1 to 4. This embodiment will provide a better balance for the operator than previous embodiment.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a third embodiment where vertical tube 26 is replaced by a U-shaped frame 60 having two vertical tubes 62, 64 which are secured to dust shroud 18. The horizontal joiner 66 which links tubes 62, 64 is preferably positioned at about 45 degrees to handles 14, 16. Handles 14, 16 are welded to joiner 66 as clearly seen in FIG. 7. This embodiment has no height adjustment as shown but a telescopic arrangement for tubes 62, 64 would allow for adjustability.

The embodiments shown relate to the use of an existing angle grinder which is split to form the completed product. In order to provide a more aesthetic product hand tool support 10 and grinder 12 could be integrated into a new product rather than a conversion from an existing grinder. Integration would remove socket 32 and lead 36 as they could be hidden from view. Integration would also allow for further advances in the balancing of the product.

It is not necessary to split angle grinder 12 if an alternate means is provided to allow power lead 36 to be connected to angle grinder 12 in a safe manner. In order for the switch 40 on trigger grip 30 to activate angle grinder 12, the trigger switch of the angle grinder must be in the “ON” position. This is unsafe if plug 38 is exposed which will allow unswitched power to be connected inadvertently causing sudden start up of angle grinder 12. FIGS. 8 and 9 show an embodiment of a switch clamping device 72 which is attached to the standard handle 70 of angle grinder 12 to alleviate this safety problem. Angle grinder 12 has a power lead 74 with a socket 76 which mates with plug 38 from power lead 36. Angle grinder 12 has a trigger switch 78 for activating and deactivating electrical power thereto.

Switch clamping device 72 has a housing of U-shaped construction with side arms 80, 82 and base 84. Ends 86, 88 are located between side arms 80, 82 and prevent escape of socket 76 and plug 38. Slot 90 is shaped to conform to the shape of handle 70 in a saddle-like manner. Slot 92 and aperture 94 allow respective leads 74, 36 to pass through. To complete switch clamping device, there is provided a threaded rod 96 having a lock nut 98 which is located in slots 100 102 of side arms 80, 82. Side arms 80, 82 are of a sufficient length to hold socket 76 and plug 38 on handle 70 and to project past trigger switch 78.

In use, socket 76 and plug 38 are coupled together and placed on top of handle 70. Side arms 80, 82 slide over socket 76 and plug 38 and handle 70 to capture socket 76 and plug 38 therebetween as shown in FIG. 9. Threaded rod 96 is more upwardly in slots 100, 102 until trigger switch 78 is depressed to the “on” position and lock nut 98 is tightened. Socket 76 and plug 38 will be clamped to handle 70 and electrical power can be supplied to grinder 12 when switch 40 on trigger grip 30 is activated. Thus switch clamping device 72 will provide a connection to hand tool support 10 which is simple to apply and non-destructive.

The electrical connection between socket 76 and plug 38 will be retained because they are contained within the housing thus preventing unswitched power connection to plug 38 while trigger switch 78 is clamped in the “ON” position. Any angle grinder 12 can be utilised without alteration to the angle grinder 12 per se. Although this embodiment has a particular use with hand tool support 10 it is not limited to that application. The switch clamping device 72 can be applied to other situations where remote activation of an electrical appliance fitted with a trigger switch is required. The shape and particular configuration of the switch clamping device 12 can be varied to suit requirements as would be understood by the man skilled in the art.

In FIGS. 10 to 12 a variation of the hand tool support shown in FIG. 5 is shown using the angle grinder 12 shown in FIG. 9. Tube 26 is attached to one of side members 52 and is offset from the centre of the grinding disc (not shown) of grinder 12. The intersection of handles 14, 16 will accordingly be offset. As tube 26 has been shifted from the top of bracket 52 (FIG. 5) to one of side members 52 (FIG. 11), additional stability is obtained by the addition of a securing bolt 104. Weights 106 can also be fitted, as required to the top of bracket 52 to act as a counterbalance for the weight of angle grinder 12. The weights 106 will also assist in the cutting action of angle grinder 12. A downward force is not required by the operator and different weights can be used to suit conditions.

FIGS. 10 to 18 also illustrate the use of separate arcuate segment 108 which is illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 15 and 17, and is part of dust shroud 18. Segment 108 has a top plate 110 which slides over the top of the substantially circular base plate 109 of dust shroud 18. A slot 112 is provided to allow segment 108 to be clampingly engaged to the top of base plate 109 by nut 114. A curved section 116 depends downwardly from top plate 110. The arcuate segment 108 will cover a flattened segment 111 of the depending flange 113 from base plate 109 to which band clamp 118 is secured to hold rubber skirt 22. The flattened segment will allow the grinding disc (not shown) to assist with edging operations. A rubber skirt 115 is also attached to curved section 116 to provide a sealing effect for dust control. In order to assist with edging operations handle 16 may be configured to be adjustable in its orientation. For edging operations handle 16 can be adjusted to be parallel with handle 14 to allow the operator to get closer without handle 16 bumping into a wall. The flexible rubber skirt 22 includes a small cut out section 117 to allow the edge of the grinding disc to protrude therethrough in its flattened segment 111.

By extending the depending flange 113 across the flattened segment 111 it allows rubber skirt 22 to surround the entire periphery of shroud 18 including the flattened segment 111. A small opening 117 is required for the grinding disc to protrude through rubber skirt 22. In this way a much improved air velocity and shielding of the flattened segment 111 achieved compared to a fully open flattened section. The use of a height adjustable rubber skirt 22 mounted on a solid shroud 18 provides advantages of the prior art. This is important because it provides a seal for the shroud that can be height-adjusted quickly for different sized discs that may be attached to the grinder 12 so that the seal is not causing friction on the surface to be abraded. This lack of friction is what gives the grinder the “floating” sensation and allows it to be used with handles above the angle grinder at approximately adult seating height. Most seats of chairs are at a height of 35 cm to 50 cm depending on the personal height of the operator. The handles are preferably at or near the seat height of the operator. A typical height would be 40 cm. If the flexible skirt had medium to strong friction with the floor it would cause angle grinder 12 to be tilted by operator 42 pushing on the raised handles which would tilt the grinding disc making it dig into the surface rather than float across it. When edging operations have been completed, the arcuate segment 108 can be clamped to dust shroud 18 by nut 114.

Variations of handles 14, 16 can be used. In FIG. 19 handles 14, 16 are shown forming a triangular loop with the hypotenuse section 118. In FIG. 20 handle 16 is extended on both sides and is connected by a semi-circular section 120.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, handle 16 can be moved from the position shown in FIG. 21 to the position shown in FIG. 22. Handle 16 has a stub section (not shown) on its bottom surface which slides into the hollow section of tube 26. The stub section is held fast by screw 122. Screw 122 can be loosened to allow the stub section to be withdrawn from tube 26 and replaced when handle 16 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 22. This adjustment will allow operator 42 to get closer to the wall without bumping into the wall.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 23 to 25 a second tube 124 is attached to the handle 50 of angle grinder 12. A dolly wheel 126 is attached to tube 124 by a bracket 128 and stub axle 130. A loop formed by two parallel arms 132, 134 and arcuate links 136, 138 will form a rear handle 140. A front handle 142 will similarly be attached to tube 26.

Although the embodiments illustrate use by a right handed operator it is evident to the man skilled in the art that the position of handle 16 could be mirrored to the other side. The embodiments have been described with reference to their use with angle grinders but the invention is not limited to that use. The hand tool support could be readily adapted to other tools e.g. saws, scarifiers, floor polishers, sanding machines, etc.

The invention will be understood to embrace many further modifications as will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art and which will be deemed to reside within the broad scope and ambit of the invention, there having been set forth herein only the broad nature of the invention and a certain specific embodiment by way of example. 

1. A hand tool support including a pair of handles angled with respect to one another, or parallel with one another, a frame element or connecting means adapted to be connected at one end thereof to at least one of said handles and at the other end to a hand tool, whereby, in use, said handles are located above said hand tool, and wherein said handles are located above said hand tool at a height to allow an operator to remain seated in a substantially upright posture during use.
 2. The hand tool support of claim 1, wherein at least one of said handles includes a control means for activating said hand tool.
 3. The hand tool support of claim 1, wherein said handles are substantially at right angles to one another.
 4. The hand tool support of claim 1, wherein said handles are substantially co-planar.
 5. The hand tool support of claim 1 wherein said handles are adjustable between two positions, a first position whereby said handles are substantially at right angles to one another and second position whereby said handles are substantially parallel to one another.
 6. The hand tool support of claim 1, wherein said frame element or connecting means includes a vertical tube with said handles attached thereto at one end and a bracket at the other end thereof for supporting said tool.
 7. The hand tool support of claim 6, wherein at least one counterbalance is provided.
 8. The hand tool support of claim 7, wherein said at least one counterbalance is located on said bracket or said vertical tube.
 9. The hand tool support of claim 1, wherein one of said handles is aligned, in use, above or substantially parallel to the centre line of said hand tool.
 10. The hand tool support of claim 1, wherein said hand tool is a grinder and a junction of said handles overlies above the centre of the grinding disc of said grinder.
 11. The hand tool support of claim 1, wherein said hand tool is a grinder and a junction of said handles is offset from and overlies above the centre of the grinding disc of said grinder.
 12. The hand tool support of claim 1, wherein said hand tool includes a dust shroud and, in use, said frame element or connecting means is attached to said dust shroud.
 13. The hand tool support of claim 10, wherein said grinder includes a dust shroud.
 14. A hand tool with integrated hand tool support, said hand tool support including a pair of handles angled with respect to one another or parallel to one another, a frame element or connecting means adapted to be connected at one end thereof to at least one of said handles and at the other end to said hand tool with said handles being located above said hand tool.
 15. A hand tool support including at least one handle means, a frame element or connecting means adapted to be connected at one end thereof to said at least one handle means and at the other end to a hand tool, whereby, in use, at least one handle means is located above said hand tool at a height to allow an operator to remain seated upright during use.
 16. The hand tool support of claim 15, wherein said at least one handle means includes a pair of handles angled with respect to one another, or parallel with one another, and said frame element or connecting means is adapted to be connected to at least one of said handles.
 17. The hand tool support of claim 15 wherein said handles are located above said hand tool at a height to allow an operator to remain seated in a substantially upright posture during use and said handles are at or near the seat height of the operator, typically 35 cm to 50 cm.
 20. The hand tool support of claim 15, wherein a pair of handles are provided, one of said handles being connected to said frame element or connecting means and the other handle at the rear of said hand tool.
 21. The hand tool support of claim 20, wherein each of said handles includes a loop formed of linked parallel arms.
 22. A dust shroud for an abrading tool, said dust shroud including a base plate and a peripheral skirt depending therefrom, an outlet pipe opening into said base plate for extraction of abraded material, and a flexible skirt attached to the outer periphery of said depending skirt depending beyond said peripheral skirt.
 23. The dust shroud of claim 22, further including a clamping means to hold said flexible skirt to said depending skirt to allow for adjustment of the depth of said flexible skirt.
 24. The dust shroud of claim 22 wherein said flexible skirt is made of rubber or a similar material.
 25. The dust shroud of claim 23 wherein said clamping means is a band clamp.
 26. The dust shroud of any one of claims 22 wherein said base plate is circular.
 27. The dust shroud of claim 22 wherein said base plate has a flattened segment which has a matching depending skirt part to expose said abrading tool for edging work.
 28. The dust shroud of claim 22 further including a separate arcuate segment having a base plate and a co-operating depending skirt part, said arcuate segment co-operating with said flattened segment when edging work is not required.
 29. The dust shroud of claim 28, wherein said co-operating depending skirt part includes a flexible skirt part.
 30. The dust shroud of claim 22 wherein said flexible skirt has a cut out section or gap along a part of said flattened segment.
 31. The dust shroud of claim 22 further comprising a fixing means to attach said dust shroud to said abrading tool.
 32. The dust shroud of claim 22 wherein said abrading tool is a grinder. 